Stall storage system



Nov. 3, 1931. D. COLE 1,829,923

STALL STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 27. 1929 4'Sheets-Sheet 1 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. COLE STALL STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 27.

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Nov. 3, 1931.

Nov. 3, 1931. D. COLE STALL STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 2'7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 $11 aw a.

NOV. 3, 1931'. COLE 1,829,923

STALL STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwuewtoz 9 (wk) COEQ/ 95M 4 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED --STATES DAVID COLE, OF EL PASO, TEXAS r STALL STORAGE SYSTEM Application filed May 27,

The present invention relates to a. reclaim- 1 the accompanying drawings in which er for storage'and averaging plants, particularly with respect to solid materials stored in bulk, such as'used in mining operations. In the patent to Cole and Bergmam'No.

1,389,184, dated August 30, 1921, a plant comprising a series of parallel bins and reclaimer mechanism therefor is described, the reclaimer being transferable from one bin to another and adapted to enter a selected bin to remove its contents' The present invention is designed to overcome certain difficulties encountered in the operation of the reclaimer shown in the Patent No. 1,389,184, referred to above. y

In the bin storage plants it has been the practice to work on the face of a pile in one of the bins, the upper strata of the material gravitatingto the floor of the bin when the ex- 0 cavator, scraping the toe of the pile and moving over the lower surfaceof the breast,

removes the material to the reclaimer conveyor. In certain types of operations the mix or contains sticky flotation concentrates and it has been found that the material lying outside the path of the excavator buckets does not I gravitate or rill as: readily as when the material is relatively dry. For this reason it is diiiicult to obtain a uniform flow of the material toward the excavator or a'relativelv smooth face on the front of the pile.

This invention has for one of its objects the provision of a novel form of floor construction for each bin, a trench slightly wider than the excavator buckets extending longitudinally from one end of the bin, to the other. The excavator buckets are adapted to remove material from the trench.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a transverse scraper, or a plurality thereof, disposed angularly with respect to the trench, to scrapethe material from the sides of the bin toward the trench and excavator. 1

It is a further objectof the invention toproride an adjustable reciprocating rake to facilitate the removal of material from the face i e pile and cause it to gravitate to the scrapers and excavator.

1929. Serial No. 366,337.

One form of the invention is illustrated in Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of a portion of the storage plant showing the position of the reclaimer with respect to one of the bins after the material has been removed therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation corresponding to Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of thereclaimer mechanism; I

Fig. l is a rear view, partly in section, of the reclaimer; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the rake.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the storage bins 11 are arranged in parallel relation, being separated from each other by partition walls '12. The materialis deposited in the bins by a bedding conveyor 13 mounted on-trucks 14;, only one of which is shown, to permit the conveyor to be moved transversely of the bins to fill any desired bin. The conveyor is provided with a tripper. (not shown) which moves longitudinally of the bin so that a relatively long pile of substantially uniform height may be deposited completely to fill the bin.

The reclaimer 15 is mounted on wheels 16 and is moved longitudinally of each bin progressively to remove its contents. Cooperating with the reclaimer is a conveyor 17 movable longitudinally as well as transversely with the reclaimer. The arrangement and structure so far described'is similar to that illustrated in the above-mentioned Patent No. 1,389,184.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the reclaimer mechanism is supported on a frame 18 mounted on the wheels 16 running on trackrails 19. The rails 19 are flush with the floor of the bin and permit the reclaimer to move substantially the full length ofthe bin. Disposed centrally of the bin is a trench or trough 21 running parallel to the rails 19, the side walls of the trench 9 being inclined and terminating in a chan- The excavator 23 consists of a plurality of buckets 24: mounted on an endless chainand cooperating. with a sprocket 25, which sprocket is supported in bearings 26 and driven by motor 27 through gear reducing mechanism 28. The chain of buckets is supported by an inclined frame 29, rollers 30 and guide pulley 31. The lower end of the chain extends below the floor of the bin and is adapted to remove material from the trench 21, the buckets being slightly narrower than the channel 22. It is to be noted that the catenary strand of the buckets assumes a horizontal path of travel at or near the beginning of the digging operation so that the material is scraped from the bottom of channel 22 and carried to the hopper 32 which discharges on to the conveyor 17 resulting in a relatively complete removal of the material from the trench.

To insure complete removal of the toe of the pile the reclaimer is provided with a pair of transversely moving plows or scrapers 33 disposed forwardly of the excavator and designed to scrape material from the floor of the bin into the trench 21. Each of the plows consists of a plurality of scraper elements 34 secured to a chain 35 passing around sprocket 36 and guide wheel 37. Rollers 38 and frame 39 provide further support for each plow. Disposed to the rear of the plow is a plate 40 substantially the length of the plow and cooperating with the transversely moving elements 34 to catch any material not engaged by the chain scraper. A small tooth plow 40 is adapted to remove material from the tracks as the reclaimer moves forward. The sprockets 36 are each secured to a drive shaft 41 driven by motor 42, reducing mechanism 43, and gears 44, 45, as shown in Fig. 3.

Pivotally mounted at 46 on the frame 18 is a reciprocating rake 47 adapted to loosen the material on the upper face of the pile. The material loosened by the rake gravitates toward the toe of the pile where it is worked into the trench 21 by the plows 33 and removed therefrom by excavator 23. The rake consists of a plurality of frames 48 (see Fig. 5) to which are secured a number of transverse bars or scraper elements 49. The lower ends of frames 48 are pivotally secured to rocker arms 51, the latter being rigidly fastened to rocker shafts 52, to which are also fastened the arms 53. The upper ends of the frames are supported by arms 54 pivotally secured to the frames and to brackets 55 on the supporting frames 56. As stated above the rake supporting frames are pivotally mounted to the main frame 18 at 46, their upper ends being adjustable with re spect to the main frame for the purpose of setting the supporting frames and rakes at an angle corresponding to that of the angle of repose of the material in the bin. The position of the supporting frames is established by means of an adjusting device comprising nut 57 cooperating with a screw 58 at one end of the connecting arms 59, the other ends of the arms being secured to the upper ends of the supporting frames at 61. Hand wheel 62 turns the nut 57 to effect adjustment of the length of arms 59 and consequently the angle of the rake with respect to the horizontal.

For reciprocating the rake a motor 63 is provided. The arms 53 are connected to connecting rods 64 each of which is reciprocated by a crank 65 on the shafts 66. The shafts 66 are rotated by motor 63 through reduction mechanism 67, stub shafts 68, 68, and gears 69, 70, 69, 70, flexible couplings 71, 71 being provided between the reduction mechanism and the gears 70, 70. It is evident that rotation of the shafts 66 rocks arms 53 and 51 and reciprocates the rake frame to loosen the underlying material.

Suitable mechanism is provided for moving the reclaimer into a bin. A bevel gel 72 is secured to one of the wheels 16, although, if desired, gears may be provided on two or more wheels. A transmission shaft 7 3 having bevel gears 74, 75 at its ends provides a driving connection between the bevel gear 76, secured to shaft 77, and the gear 72. A motor 78 is coupled with shaft 77 through reduction mechanism 79 and clutch 81. Preferably there are two speed reducing sets, one to permit the reclaimer to be moved up to or away from the pile at a relatively high speed, and another to move the machine slow- 1y during the reclaiming operation.

'VVhen it is desired to move the reclaimer transversely of the bins to position it in front of a bin from which material is to be removed, the reclaimer is moved on to a transfer car 82 as indicated in Fig. 3. The wheels 83 of this car are secured to a shaft 84 adapted to be driven by motor 85 and gearing 86. Current for the motor is taken from a third rail 87 in the transfer car pit 88. The depth of this pit is substantially equal to that of the trench 21. It will be seen that tracks 89 on the transfer car are adapted to align with the tracks 19 in the bins so that the reclaimer can be run into the bins from the car.

The operation of the reclaimer is apparent from the above description. The reclaimer may be positioned to run into any desired bin by moving the transfer car in front of the selected bin until the tracks 89 and 19 are in alignment, after which the reclaimer is moved forward into the bin until the rake is in position to loosen material from the face of the pile. The rake is of course adjusted to have its frame parallel with the angle of repose of the material. The rake is then reciprocated to loosen the material on the upper portion of the face, the plows put into operation to carry the material loosened by the rake and the toe of the pile toward the central trench, and the excavator actuated to remove'the material IIOIII. the

into the trench until the contents of the bin have been completely removed. The reclaimer is then run out on to the transfer car and carried to another full bin where the same operations are carried out.'

The mechanism described above is a preferred form of the apparatus, but it is apparent that the details are susceptible of modification. It is obvious, for instance, that the trench need not be disposed centrally of the bin but may be adjacent one of the walls, in which case a single transverse scraper will sufiice.

What is claimed is:

1. A reclaimer of the class described comprising a bin having a channel in and below the bottom thereof; excavating means for removing material from said channel; and scraper means for moving material transversely of the bin and into said channel.

2. A reclaimer of the class'described comprising a bin having a channel in and below the bottom thereof; excavating means for removing material from said channel; scraper means for moving material transversely of the bin and into said channel; and means disposed above said scraper means for loosening material above thelevel of the scraping means.

3. A reclaimer of the class described comprising a bin having a channel in and below the bottom thereof; excavating means for removing material from said channel; and a pair of scraper means for moving material transversely of the bin and into saidchannel, said pair of scraper means moving in opposite directions and being disposed on opposite sides of said excavating means.

4. A reclaimer for removing material from a pile in bull: comprising an excavator; a

, rake frame; a supporting frame for said rake frame; means for adjusting the .angular position of said supporting frame to establish a parallel relation between said rake frame and the angle of repose of said pile; means for connecting said frames in parallel relation comprising rocker arms; and means for rocking said arms to reciprocate saidrake frame. 7

5. A reclaimer of the class described comprising a bin having a channel in and below the bottom thereof; excavatin g means for removing material from said channel; a horizontally disposed scraper on each side of the front of said excavating means, said scrapers moving in opposite directions and angulan 1y with respect to said channel.

6. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a channel in and below the bottom thereof, a frame;

excavating means mounted on "aid frame for removing material from said channel; scraper means mounted on said frame for moving material transversely of the bin and into said channel; andmeans for moving said frame into said bin.

7. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a longitudinal trench in and below the floor thereof; an excavator adapted to enter said trench and remove material therefrom; and means for scraping material from the floor of said bin into said trench.

8. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a longitudinal trench disposed centrally in and below the floor thereof; an excavator adapted to enter said trench and remove material therefrom; and means on each side of the front of said excavator for scraping material from the floor of said bin into said trench.

9. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a longitudinal trench in and below the floor thereof;

' track rails disposed in the floor of the bin and parallel to said trench; a wheeled frame adapted to move along said rails; an excavator mounted on said frame and adapted to enter said trench and remove material therefrom; and means for moving said frame along said rails.

10. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a longitudinal trench in and below the floor thereof; an endless chain adapted to move trans versely of said bin and parallel to the floor thereof; a plurality of scraper elements secured to said chain and adapted to scrape material from the floorinto said trench; an excavator for removing material from said trench; and means for moving said scraper elements and excavator longitudinally of the bin.

tudinal trench in and below the floor thereof;

an endless chain adapted to move transversely of said bin and parallel to the floor thereof; a plurality of scraper elements secured to said chain, said elements being adapted to scrape material from the floor into said trench; a transverse scraper plate disposed rearwardly of and adjacent said elements; an excavator for removing material from said trench; and means for moving said scraper elements, plate and excavator longitudinally of the bin.

12. In combination with a bin for storing materials in bulk, said bin having a longitudinal trench in and below the floor thereof; a wheeled frame; an excavator mounted on said frame and adapted to remove material from said trench; a horizontally disposed material from the floor into said trench; a

reciprocating rake spaced from the floor for loosening material at a level above said scrapers; and means for moving said excavator, scraper and rake into said bin.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

DAVID COLE. 

